Former Rockhampton Bishop Was Protecting Church's Reputation

Morning Bulletin
April 17, 2015

http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/former-rocky-bishop-brian-heenan-gives-evidence-he/2610071/

Former Rockhampton Bishop Brian Heenan

THE commission has heard when criminal action went ahead against Fr Durham, Fr Heenan wrote a letter of reference about his priest's character.

Fr Heenan believed it was his duty to write a character reference despite the allegations against Fr Durham.

He said in his reference: "he (Fr Durham) has had a unique life as a citizen of this district, priest to many parish communities, chaplain to service personnel and inspiring friend to young and old alike. I ask that the incredible amount of good he has done will be weighed against the failing that have also been part of his life".

12.10PM: IT took five years, after he was made aware of sexual allegations against his parish priests, for Father Heenan to make a formal apology to the victims of sexual abuse at Neerkol.

The Royal Commission heard Father Durham was dismissed from his role as Neerkol parish's administrator when he was charged by the police.

Fr Heenan says at the time he felt it was time to dismiss Fr Durham because of the public nature of the charges.

"We were concerned about further damage to the church if he was seen to still be associated with the church."

Fr Heenan admitted after his dismissal, Fr Durham was allowed to stay at the presbytery at Neerkol Orphanage because he had nowhere to stay.

11.30PM: FR HEENAN has stated it could well have been the case he wasn't trying to protect the reputation of the church, but was trying to put off former residents from coming forward with allegations.

He acknowledged he didn't respond to claims made by former Neerkol resident David Owen until Bishop Malone of the Maitland Newcastle region responded to a letter sent by Mr Owen.

11.20PM: FORMER Neerkol resident Mary Adams walked out of the Rockhampton Courthouse feeling partly pleased with the evidence given by Brian Heenan.

She felt his testimony was genuine and honest, in relation to the way he reacted when he was first made aware of reports of sexual abuse at Neerkol Orphanage.

10.50AM: FR Heenan has stated he was trying to protect the reputation of the Catholic Church in 1996 when he publicly stated the sexual abuse allegations against his priests were "scurrilous".

He accepted that was his reason for not considering the statements and allegations of the former residents who had suffered at the hands of his former parish priests.

10.45AM: IT took three years for the former Bishop of Rockhampton to "restrict" (Fr Durham's) access to children, despite being made aware of child sex abuse allegations against the latter.

Fr Durham remained at the Neerkol Presbytery in an administrative position.

The Royal Commission heard the witness AYB had told Fr Heenan of sexual abuse allegations against Fr Durham while while she was a resident at Neerkol Orphanage.

In 1996, Fr Heenan "restricted" Fr Durham's access to children, as he remained at the Neerkol Presbytery and had access to parishioners.

However, Fr Heenan has accepted he did not supervise Fr Durham's activities after the latter was restricted fr contacting children.

Fr Heenan also accepted he did nothing meaningful to stop Fr Durham's previous offending.

10AM: BRIAN Heenan has stated he did not read a book published by a Neerkol Orphanage resident, detailing the sexual abuse at the institution, because he didn't want to believe it.

The Royal Commission has heard prior to the former Rockhampton Bishop moving to the region in 1991, he did not have any training in respect of allegations of sexual assault.

"Sadly sex abuse was rising at the time and there was no adequate preparation until the reality began to dawn," he said.

Fr Heenan was ordained in 1962. He assisted other priests in the archdiocese in Brisbane before becoming the parish priest of Zillmere.

He has told the Royal Commission one of the alleged assailants of sexual abuse at Neerkol Orphanage, Father Reginald Durham (deceased), retired in 1993.

He remained the parish priest in 1991. As the parish priest Fr Durham was still connected to children.

9AM: FORMER Rockhampton Bishop Brian Heenan will take the stand today to give evidence in the Royal Commission hearing into child sex abuse at Neerkol Orphanage.

Fr Heenan is expected to explain why he made his decisions when the victims of child sex abuse Neerkol Orphanage reported the abuse to Catholic Church and Police authorities in the early 1990s.

In 1996, following the reported allegations, Fr Heenan sent out a letter and media release stating the alleged child sex abuse reports were "scurrilous".

This received much backfire from the former residents of Neerkol Orphanage.

He later retracted his comments.

Fr Heenan was expected to speak for a lengthy time in today's hearing.

More from the commission to come.